The midnight kiss has long been the singular goal of many a New Year's Eve celebration — a mix of romance, superstition and a hearty dose of FOMO (fear of missing out). But lately, fewer people are puckering up as the clock strikes twelve. The iconic kiss is being ghosted in favor of celebrations that feel more personal and less cringe.
Legend has it that the midnight kiss traces back to ancient Roman Saturnalia festivals and European masquerade balls. Revelers would remove their masks at midnight and kiss to mark the end of one year and the start of another. Folklore added a layer of superstition, claiming the kiss would bring good luck and ensure strong relationships in the year ahead.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the midnight kiss showed up in a New York Times article from Jan. 3, 1863, noting, "New Year's Eve is a great time among the Germans, who assemble around the domestic fireside ..
. As the clocks ring out the hour of midnight, all this festivity pauses for a moment, to listen, and as the last stroke dies into silence, all big and little, old and young, male and female, push into each other's arms, and hearty kisses go round like rolls of labial musketry." The tradition was clearly beloved, as the article adds, "Gentlemen and ladies in the bloom of youth heartily approve this custom!" Over time, the midnight kiss became a fixture of New Year's celebrations, fueled by popular culture and traditions.
But just like the Times Square ball drop, not everyone .
